Pupils in the West Midlands are being taught "life coach-ing" skills to boost their confidence and self-esteem.

The two-month course also aims to give youngsters "time and space to understand their potential" and consider their goals in life.

It has been co-developed by Pam Richardson, the bestselling author of The Life Coach - Become the Person You've Always Wanted to Be.

Her teachings involve showing people how to "listen to your inner self" and discover their "values beliefs".

More than 200 youngsters across the country have so far been put through the self-help programme, run by The UK College of Life Coaching, based in Wolverhampton.

Duncan Gee, senior coach and co-creator of the scheme called MAGIC, claimed making such training part of the curriculum would help tackle rising ill-discipline in schools.

"We have to put a break on behaviour at the moment," he said.

"This might just bring home to them that every one should respect other people's feelings as well as respect themselves."

Participants on the course complete a range of interactive activities covering topics such as "team building", "self questioning" and "understanding assertiveness".

According to its publicity, MAGIC uses "visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning methods" to achieve its aims.

Mr Gee said: "It is difficult to get across. What we do for example is ask them to name motivated people and then look at the characteristics of them."

Mr Gee believes it is increasingly essential that youngsters know how to behave properly by the time they leave school.

"Some of the kids that are leaving school are exhibiting poor interpersonal skills. That affects their employability later in life," he said.

"What we are doing is complementing the school's activities."

Training costs £170 per pupil and is aimed at youngsters aged between ten and 19.

Retired Birmingham head teacher Sir David Winkley said the scheme would need to provide evidence of its effectiveness before teachers adopted it.

"In principle there may be something in it," he said.

"But if you take it as a blanket idea you have to ask what is the evidence that it works?"

"There is, however, growing research to show that confidence is as important in life as anything else. It is not just about passing exams." n MAGIC stands for Motivation, Goal achievement, Assertiveness, Innovation and Confident communication. For more information visit the website on www.ukclc.net/magic